Finansmyndigheter

Finansmyndigheter are government agencies responsible for supervising and regulating financial activities to maintain stability, integrity, and consumer protection in the financial system. They oversee banks, insurers, pension funds, securities markets, payment services and other financial firms. Typical tasks include licensing, ongoing prudential and conduct supervision, monitoring risk, requiring reporting, conducting inspections, enforcing rules, and imposing sanctions for breaches. They also cooperate with central banks on monetary policy, financial stability, and payment systems, as well as with law enforcement on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.

In Sweden, Finansinspektionen (FI) is the primary financial supervisory authority. FI licenses and supervises banks, credit institutions, securities firms, fund managers, insurers and payment institutions. It issues rules in line with Swedish law and EU directives, conducts supervision, and can require capital and liquidity measures or impose penalties, including revoking licenses in severe cases. FI works in coordination with Sveriges Riksbank (the central bank) for financial stability and with Finansdepartementet (the Ministry of Finance) for policy direction. In practice, macroprudential oversight may involve the central bank, while FI focuses on microprudential supervision and market conduct.

Internationally, finansmyndigheter operate within national frameworks that align with EU or global standards. European authorities such as ESMA, EBA, and EIOPA coordinate supervision and harmonize rules; national authorities implement EU directives like MiFID II and CRD IV, ensuring cross-border consistency and cooperation across the financial system.